“What? That’s for Old People, that.” Home Adaptations, Ageing and Stigmatisation: A Qualitative Inquiry

Cathy Bailey, Dominic Aitken, Gemma Wilson, Philip Hodgson, Barbara Douglas and Rachael Docking
Additional contact information
Cathy Bailey: Nursing, Midwifery and Health, Coach Lane Campus, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE7 7XA, UK
Dominic Aitken: School of Architecture Planning and Landscape, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
Gemma Wilson: Nursing, Midwifery and Health, Coach Lane Campus, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE7 7XA, UK
Philip Hodgson: Nursing, Midwifery and Health, Coach Lane Campus, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE7 7XA, UK
Barbara Douglas: Elders Council of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 5PL, UK
Rachael Docking: Centre for Ageing Better, National Charity, London EC1V 4AD, UK

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 24, 1-13

Abstract: Older people, even those living with long-term conditions or poor mobility, can be supported to live well at home, through adapting their home to meet changing need. Installing home adaptations, from grab rails to walk in shower rooms, is cost effective, may prevent falls, reduce social isolation and improve self confidence. Despite austerity cuts to public spending, the UK government increased home adaptations’ funding. However, not much is known about older people’s experiences and understanding of acquiring and living with home adaptations and uptake of home adaptations could be improved. Using wearable camera and face to face interview data, this qualitative study explored a diverse group of older people’s retrospective experiences ( n = 30). Focus group discussions were also carried out with a wide range of professionals involved in the provision of home adaptations ( n = 39). Findings suggest people may delay having adaptations, because of perceived stigmatising associations with decline and vulnerability. As delaying the installation of home adaptations until crisis point is known to reduce their effectiveness, such associations need to be challenged.

Keywords: home adaptations; housing; older people; ageism; healthy ageing; independent living (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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